My wife was playing this game yesterday and got REALLY upset, like weepy. I didn't understand why until I took a look at it. Seeing how Quico loves that monster unconditionally despite how cruel it can be & how he might be better off without it strikes a very real chord for us because we're foster parents.

This game looks really endearing, and one of those few examples where reviewers are universally insisting that the time and money is worth it despite technical and control issues. I also own a PS3, and would get a cut with plus. It's just...I'm afraid the subtext at hand may hit too close to home when push comes to shove and I'm engaged in the actual playing of it.

I second the notion that either way, it's very good that this game exists and with big backing, continuing Sony's tradition of Flower, Journey, and Everyday Shooter, essentially taking the high road. I downloaded the demo, so on a stronger day I'll probably dive in seeing as the praise is too hard to ignore.

Side note: When I first saw this game and the imagery for it, I thought that the leaving of key team ICO members caused Guardian to be cut and reduced to a PSN game. Boy and his giant monster and all that.

I remember hearing about this game at least 2 years ago. I believe the person who came up with the idea of this game said something about it being about their alcoholic father. "Monster", as I am sure everyone could guess, was created as kind of representation of the dad.

It's a neat story really. Someone you love, who can't stop abusing something that turns them into your tormentor, and trying desperately to help them to quit. I wonder if the people making it having firsthand experience with the topic helped them to make it so powerful with its delivery? Could someone who never experience this kind of thing have done as well?

Imp Emissary:I wonder if the people making it having firsthand experience with the topic helped them to make it so powerful with its delivery? Could someone who never experience this kind of thing have done as well?

I think they could have, the question I would ask is would they have gone through with the development/release at all if they hadn't had the experience. Given the sensitive issue of the subject, approaching it from the outside and turning it into a game, I could see it blowing up in their face publicity wise like so many other things.

It's a great game, but definitely not one I'd be able to replay. I just finished it and I pretty much sobbed throughout the last level. It hit a lot closer to home than I was expecting it to. I'm glad I played it, but once was enough. ;__;

I had a friend who is planning to get this game and he played the demo and when you get the robot thing, we just spend ten minutes making her go LUUU LAAA!

Twas a fun evening.

Fortunately, except for that one section, you very rarely have to hear that LUUUULAAAAAA...which is enough to make you want to harm puppies. For the duration you have to put up with it, it's unendurable, but there are very few Lula switches after that.

I know. It was another time crunch. So either we'd post the review suuuuuuper late with a review, or in a more timely fashion without one. I chose the former. That was my call, and I do apologize for the lack of video.

A buddy asked me my feelings on this game. I gave what I thought was a neutral assessment of the game. I told about the subject matter, the schizophrenic control setup, and how Monster ain't your friend, but rather indifferent/abusive to Quico.

He then asked me if I hated the game. I told him no. All of the problems with the game work in the subject matter.

Thanks for the report back Susan Arendt, much appreciate it.As bad as it sounds, I barely read reviews anymore, but rather watch and hear reviews.This way, I can see the gameplay and hear the critic of the game at the same time.

Often times, they simply don't match up, such as Mike Kayatta's review of Lollipop Chainsaw, The review came out undecided but leaning heavily on the no-fun-for-me-time-to-move-on scale - yet the gameplay shown just does't reflect that it is't a fun game at all...

This is why I rely on video reviews so heavily. Because often than not, its not always a review of A game but an opinion of someone who played the game.

I want to play it. My mother died 2 years ago because of her alcoholism and the dad of my mate is recovering alcoholic who did really shit during the years of his drunkenness. So i think the game might not offer me insight in THAT way-but maybe help to cope..